Maltese people have quite the temperament, and have been known to easily blow their top in a heated situation (erm, sorry). And if the sitch is a real firecracker, a curse or two are also bound to come out. But do locals really believe in the Maltese sehta, or curse? Well, we are a suspicious bunch...

What is the Maltese sehta?

Basically, what we refer to as sehta is when for some reason or other (either out of anger or envy), a person curses someone else. For example: someone crashes into you and you curse the person (and sometimes if it’s bad, we’ll involve the family too) because of the shitty thing he or she has done. #harsh.

We’re quite the superstitious bunch, and place crosses in our homes. We even have a pair of eyes (said to be the eye of Horus or Osiris) on the traditional luzzu boat that is said to ward off evil spirits and keep fishermen safe while at sea.

In a 2016 TVM interview with historian and researcher Yanika Schembri Fava, she said that ‘cleansing’ one’s home was also a ritual firmly believed in locally. And by cleansing we mean sprinkling rock salt, garlic cloves, olive oil and olive leaves, which are mixed in a pan and set on fire, along with a piece of clothing belonging to the person you believe has cursed you. Scary stuff right there…

What do locals think about the curse?

In a recent Facebook thread posted to The Salott (RUBS), locals had their say as to whether they believe in curses. Majority rules that yes, indeed they do, with all their heart, body, mind and soul. #NaghmluLQrun

Some have even stated that they have experienced a curse or are even going through one now! Like a black cloud hovering over their lives, they believe someone would have cursed them out of spite, especially when jealousy spikes.

Wow, shit just got real. Do you believe in the curse?